The Prince's Mated Fae

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness," I forced a smile and curtseyed to the prince and then his mother. "Oh, no," the prince's mother gushed, "It's truly our honour to finally meet you!" she beamed and motioned for her golden son to step forward. He picked up my hand and lightly kissed it. "Tis, truly an honour to meet my betrothed." he gave me an almost snide smirk. Prince Bjorn, I remembered the last time I'd seen him. It was three years ago at his own sixteenth birthday, although we were in the capital, not in the western court. He'd beheaded a bear. The King had boasted that he had foreseen the future as it was him who picked out Bjorn's name. "I believe the Lord Alantar has arranged a seat at the table beside Dahlia." "I'll gladly take that seat." Bjorn followed mother to the banquet table where we were to be seated. There in the middle of the table stood my own chair and beside another grander, taller oak chair. The prince sat down in the latter and turned to shake my father's hand. As I sat down beside him, I couldn't help but feel completely overlooked. the whole room was focused on him, his stupid charming smile and his stupid crown. "I hear you palace grounds have the most beautiful gardens on the continent," Mother fluttered her fan across her chest as she talked to the prince. "Yes, my grandfather has always said his wife loved flowers so much he had the best brought across the land as a wedding gift to my grandmother." Bjorn boasted and turned to me, "Does my lady like flowers, a specific type, perhaps lilies or roses?" he asked, and I could've sworn he might have been genuine. "I much rather fauna to flora," I sighed and inspected the giant roast boar that had, in the last two minutes, been slammed down onto the table. "Oh, Dahlia, don't be a damper, tell us there must be some flower you're at least slightly fond of?" My mother grasped to the topic. "I suppose, of I really had to pick, I would say snowdrops," I decided. "How curious," Bjorn stared into me, and I felt a tugging sensation, like an elastic band being pulled taught and then flicked back. I looked away from Bjorn, staring at the court before us. All those people watching my every move. When I came out of my thoughts, I heard my father and Prince Bjorn talking. "Yes, the King is eager to have us married as soon as possible." Bjorn confirmed. "How soon, would we expect a summer wedding? The weather here can get awfully hot during the summer months. " My father strategically tried to pry information. "Oh, no, we were thinking early spring at our court, of course." He turned to look at me, "Within the next month, once the weather has warmed, we will be wed." his dark brown eyes shone with something like want or greed. Maybe the awful idea of owning me made him feel gleeful. After dessert, all the older adults and married couples left for the dance floor, leaving me alone with Bjorn. "You do not wish to marry me," Bjorn stated, knowing the truth behind my polite smile. "No, your highness." My mother would've murdered me if she knew what I was saying to the prince. "Why?" He seemed genuinely intrigued. "Because I do not feel the need to be someone's property. I do not want to be used by my father as a political tool, and I certainly do not want to be a broodmare!" I glared at him, completely and unapologetically. "I do not wish for that either," he sighed, "I want a strong female to share the burden of my crown with. To have a beautiful wife who will raise a family with me would be a bonus. Your father can go to hell for all I care. Once we are married, you will out rank him and everyone except me and my grandfather." "You still want me to have babies and be a pretty little trinket, though," I stabbed the little pink tart on the plate before me, breaking it up into tiny pieces and pushing them around my plate. "I suppose, but that is an unavoidable part of any woman's life. I am not a monster, though, and you will be compensated." "Compensated?" "For your efforts as a wife and mother," he said but did not go further. "Your high-" "Please, you may just call me Bjorn." "Bjorn, with all due respect, there is nothing that can compensate me for not being allowed to wait for my mate." "Did you not feel that earlier?" Bjorn asked. When I didn't reply he continued, "I am your mate, your bond just hasn't fully opened yet because you've only just matured, by the time you have your second bleed you'll feel what I'm feeling right now."